Switch



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UNITED STATES PAUL 1r. HENesTENnEne,

mannose ELEcTmc sYLvAmA. Y

0F WLKINSBUBG, PENNSYIIVNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WEST- t MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENN- swrmcn.. i j

To dllfwhom it may concern;` Y f v j Be 1t known that L'PrULtMHEGgTEN; iinno, a subject ofthe German Eni rtland a resident of l/Vilkil'isbu'igwfinI the utyfof.H

Allegheny and State of invented a. new and useful Improv ent in Switches, of which the following is especi-l cution. 4

v My invention relates to switches and vparticularly to thermal-responsive quick-acting switches.

One object of m invention is to provide a device of the aiiove indicated character that shall have means fonquickly making and breaking a'crcuit inresponse to predetermined conditions of temperature.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above indicatedcharacter that shall have its contact members electromagnetically actuated in accordance `with predetermined conditions.

A further object of myinvention is to provide a device of the abovelindicated character that shall be simple to construct yet effective anl'eliicien't in` its operation.;

In the carrying-olii: of fr iiyfiinventionf I provide stationary contact able bridging contact member normally biased into enga ementtherewith and having a magnetizabe portion at one side there-` of. An electromagnet is adapted to attract the magnctizable portion of thebrid 'ng member for the purpose of quickly disengaging the same from the stationary contact members, and a. bimetallic thermalresponsive device is provided for'controlling the energization of the electromagnet. Thus, when the temperature to which the device is subjected reaches a' predetermined value, the contact members may he quickly und positively actuated.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevational view of a thermal-responsive switch embodyini,r my invention; Fig. 2 is a side View, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the switch shown iii Fig. l: Fig. 3 is n fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the switch shown in Figs* 1 and 2, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view ofthe switch in its open pbsition. A cylindrical or tubulin' member 1 is provided with un insulating;r thingior member 3. :it its upper end, and may be open or closed, at its lower end, as desired. Two

speciaux-tion of Letters intent. y sppneation sied anuary io, 1917. sensi mi. 141,311. i

ennsylv' iiighave stationary contact members 5 andfG aremounted o'n-t-he insulating member 2 to constitutelthe; terminals of an `electrical circuit A movable bridging contacbmember 8 Y@ mounted on one end spring 9 the other end of which is secured to an insulating member 3 that is disposed he lower portion 1. The bridging contact member 8 is adapted to be' held in en gement with ,the stationarygcontact mem mal conditions. The bridging contact member Sis provided with a magnetizable portion 10 that isa'dapted to be' loosely'surrounded by a bimetallicmember 11 which is secured, at its lower end, to the insulating member 3. An electromagnet 12 is secured to a supporting member 4 that is mounted on the insulatih lian v2, and one terminal 13 of the winding o the electroma et is operatively connected to an" adjustab e contact member 14 which is also mounted on the. supporting member 4. he position of `the contact member 14 is adapted to be adjusted by s. screw member 15.` A contact member 16 is mounted at the upper end of the bimetallic member 11 and is adapted to engage the contact member 14, 'under predetermined conditions. The contact members 14 and 16 constitute separable terminals of a circuit comprising'the AWinding; of the electromagnet' and a source 17 of electromotive force.

.lVhen the member 1 is inserted in a hot water heater, a furnace, an oven or other device, the temperature of which is to be controlled, the bimetallie member 11 is adapted to bend under the unequal expansion' of its two unlike portions, and its contact member 16 will engage the stationary Contact member 14 when the temperature reaches a. predetermined vaille, as determined by the position of the member 14. This will coruplete a circuit' through the winding,Y of the elcctromag'net l2 for the purpose of euergizing the saine. lVheu the electrnmagiiet 12 is energized, the iuagnetizablc portion 10 of the movable bridging member H will be attracted und the member 8 will be quickly disengaged from the. stationary contact members 5 and (i. The, stationary contact members 5 and f iuuv be. adapted to control any suitable device in ueeorilunco with the application to which the theruull-responsivc switch is appl-ind.

When the temperature to which the device Patented Feb. 24, 1920. f

ers 5 and 6, under norabrid 'gicontact'membersupporte Supporting*.mmberitenlondfthere tion adapted to 25 is subjected falls' below a predetermined value,the bimetallic member 11wi ll move to such-position that the contact members 14:` and 16 become disengagedto thus o theY cigrcut'of the electromagnet l12 whic when it becomes denergizedreleases the movable bridging 1to quick 'member 8 topermt the epring 9. yv close the circuit 7.-l 1+' A spirit' ofthefinrenton 'vas set forthL in the .Kappen ed 1` Vstationary contact members 'and anelectro- Vmagnet. 1 ,A A .Y 2. The combinationwith a rece tacle bav- -in a. lsupporting membe A "r am'mn the open en thereof, of a thermabmponsive device4 disposedfln the receptaclenn electromngnet mounted onthe Supportmgmember, a more able eonta'memberx'uported bythe thermal-responsive devicefnxidelatlvely movthermal-responsive able witlrespeotfthretp means whereby thev electromai'gnet fcontrolled- 'byv the 3. The combination-(With a. rece tecle hav'l A aroun the' open thereof, orga i :tl-responsive device posed i'n th'egeoeptcle, an `electron'xagnet mounted on the' supporting member, .a movable contact 'xxie'rnb'er relatively movably snp; gutedby thethermnl-reepon'siveldevice end .g magnet.

contact members having means thereon adapted to be attracted by the electronmgnet, and means whereby the thermal-responsive device controls the electromngnet.

A 4. The combination with a receptacle haw ing an outwardly-extendn projection at the upper end thereof, of a gi ber secured to the lower end of the receptametallic mem# i cle, an electromagnet mounted on the pro1ecl tion, an amature for the electromagnet relativel movably supported by the bimetallic mem r, and means whereby the bmetallic member controls the operation ofthe electro- 5. The combination witha receptacle, of n bimetallic member mounted therem, an electromagnet, stationary contact members, a bridging contact member 4for the stationary relatively movably snpported by the bmetallic member, means for normally h Vlding 'the bimetallic member in such position that the bridgingmelnber engagesl the stationary contact membersI and means whereby the lectromagnet estuches the bridging contact member when the` bi metallic member assumes a predetermined position.- A '7. f

6. The combination with a 1eceptacle,'of a bimetallic member mounted thereln, en electromngnet, stationary contact members, a bridging contact member for the stationary contact membem `relatively movnbly su ported byv the'bimetllio member, 'fn apri g or normally so holding the bmetallic memf ber in such position that the bridging meniber engages the contact members, and contact members controlled by the v'bimetallic memberfor controlling the circuit of the r jelectromagnet, said bridging member actuated by the clectromagnet to' cliseng the Stationary contact members. l Intestimony whereof I have hereunto nubi scrib'pdmy name this 30th clay ofDec., 1 16.

PAUL M. HENGSTENBER-. 

